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For family caregivers and those associated with caregiving. Helpful and timely information and resources across a range of the most sought after issues confronting each of us as caregivers.
If you have questions, we are only a phone call away.
1-800-985-1353 M-F 9-4 CST.

Is your mom or dad slowly starving? No caregiver wants to
consider this possibility, but the truth is that malnutrition is a serious
problem among seniors, and often goes undetected and untreated until there
are serious consequences.

Why are so many seniors malnourished?

There are over six million seniors in the U.S. at risk of undernourishment. The causes are many, and varied, but include:Limited mobility- Not being able to get to the store
or prepare foods can mean that there is a lack of food available to seniors. Often poverty, poor quality of diet at home,
difficulty with shopping etc. lead to poor eating habits, or skipping meals
altogether.

Poor appetite- Another big reason many seniors
are suffering malnutrition is that they have a poor or decreased appetite due
to illness, food aversions, medications, depression, anxiety, etc. They may
find eating alone unappealing, or are on a medication or drug that makes food
unappealing.

Excess losses- Some seniors are eating, but them
losing the nutrients due to vomiting, diarrhea, stomas, etc.

Poor diet- Often seniors are uninterested, or
unable to prepare healthy meals, and instead live off of take out, junk food,
etc. Which leads to nutrient deficiencies in their bodies.

How can you tell if your parent is malnourished?

Spotting malnutrition in seniors is often difficult,
especially when they appear to be independent and functioning well. In order to
spot problems watch for weight loss, poor wound healing, excessive or easy
bruising etc. It is best to spend time with your loved one during meal times,
and if they are in a care facility, observe their eating habits, and what is
being served. Is it nutritious? Check their fridge and pantry, is it well
stocked? Are the foods nutritious?

Talk to their doctors to monitor weight loss,
and identify and address any medical reasons for poor appetite, weight loss and
the like.

Make mealtime more social for your loved one in
order to avoid lack of eating due to disinterest in eating alone.

Make sure their food is appetizing. Often diet
restrictions lead to bland or dull food options, look for ways to make it more
appetizing for your loved one.

Encourage regular exercise to stimulate
appetite.

Provide them with help, such as rides to grocery
stores, or outside help in shopping for or preparing meals.

Prepare meals for
them, or find a company or option to do so.

It is often impractical for caregivers to attend their loved
one at each meal, prepare all their meals for them, or even take them shopping
on a regular basis, as many caregivers have several other responsibilities as
well. If you find yourself in this situation, consider Mom’s Meals to help provide your parent with nutritious, convenient, and
affordable meals that will help them stay healthy.

Mom’s Meals are freshly
prepared meals that are delivered to the home of your senior loved one. They
offer six menu types, which offer options for those with diet restrictions.
There are over 70 dishes to choose from, and no prescribed menus, so seniors
are sure to find food that appeals to them. The meals are freshly prepared, and
will stay fresh for 18 days in the fridge. They take only three minutes to heat
in the microwave. And, they are affordable at just $5.99 plus shipping per
meal.

The CareGiver Partnership is a national direct-to-consumer retailer of home healthcare products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, daily living aids, nutrition support and more. In its sixth year of providing products and services that help caregivers and loved ones maintain personal dignity, the company also offers an online library of more than 1,200 family caregiver resources and personal service by experts in caregiving. Call 1-800-985-1353 or visit online.